Method and apparatus for reeling tape

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a method of reeling tape and apparatus therefor, particularly to reeling tape apparatus characterized in that the reeling is done while the direction of the width of the tape at the time of travelling and reeling is maintained perpendicular to the floor surface or horizontal plane or base and the tape moves along the floor surface.

United States Patent Oga et al. Mar. 26, 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REELING [56] References Cited TAPE UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventors: Toshisaburo Oga; Kunio Yoshizuka; 259,789 6/1882 Anthony 242/75.43 Yoshiharu Yoneda; Shigehisa 2,916,228 12/1959 Wellington. 242/76 Yanako; Yozo watabe a" Ryan X of Osaka, Japan 3,244,469 4/1966 l-lennessey et al. 242/75.5l X

[73] Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Primary Examiner ceorge R Mautz Osaka Japan Attorney, Agent, or FirmCarothers & Carothers [22] Filed: May 21, 1971 21 App]. No.: 145,617 [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a method of reeling tape and apparatus therefor, particularly to reeling tape appara- [52] Cl 242/56 226/197 2 0 tus characterized in that the reeling is done while the d t f th dth f {11 t t 121'! t ft 1- [51] B65h 19/26 B65h 19/06 B65h 27/00 lih g a ifc l zeelir lg is mzinta ins p erpefld i ifli' 2 :26 [58] Field of Search 242/75.4l, 75.42, 75.43,

floor surface or horizontal plane or base and the tape moves along the floor surface.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing lFigures PArEmmmes m4 3,799,469

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Yo a0 ASH/l 551.11 WATABE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REELING TAPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method of an apparatus for taking up on a reel such tape as unsintered polytetrafluoroethylene tape which is flaccid and apt to become elongated or folded. With this kind of tape, such as unsintered polytetrafluoroethylene tape for example, it has been the practice in the past that initially a sheet of a broad width of such material having a constant thickness of approximately 0.1 mm is obtained by rolling or the like and thereafter is cut to a requisite width (for example, about 10mm) to produce long-length pads of tape. A fixed length (for example, m or m) is then measured out from these long-length pads and taken up on a reel. There would be no trouble if it was possible to take up the tape fed out from the long-length pad in a manner that its width is always kept in a fixed position with respect to the winding width of the reel. Usually, however, the position of the tape moves left and right while travelling (hereinafter such movement will be termed as snaking), so that there may take place such drawbacks that the tape hits the flanges of the reel to become bent and taken up in a irregular condition on the reel (hereinafter referred to as reel collapse) or the tape becomes folded and is taken up in the folded condition. When taken up on a reel having no flanges, the sides of the wound tape would become irregular or have protrusions.

In order to maintain the travelling tape always in a fixed position relative to the tape reel, the general practice is to cause the travelling tape to pass between guides provided at points left and right of adjacent to the reel to prevent tape displacement. In the case of tape which is flaccid and liable to become folded, however, the guides would cause the tape to become folded and taken up on the reel in that folded condition.

This invention represents an improvement in a method and apparatus for reeling the tape always in a stabilized condition without reel collapse or tape folds caused by tape snaking when a long length of such tape, as mentioned above, which is flaccid and is liable to become elongated or folded, is taken up on a reel to a requisite or desired length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tape reeling apparatus comprising this invention. FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 (i) to 3 (v) is a sequential diagrammatic illustration of the functioning mechanism of the apparatus before and after the starting of tape reeling with the tape gripper provided in the center.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Detailed description will be made with reference to the drawings.

a Apparatus In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an installation base plate 1 of the vertical type, which is provided with a rotary axle 2 so as to enable a pad 3 of reeled, long length unsintered polytetrafluoroethylene tape or the like may be mounted thereon. A plurality of rotary axles 2 for mounting long-length pads 3 may be provided as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Above the position where the pad 3 is to be placed, there is provided a tension control mechanism A for the purpose of adjusting the tension to a fixed amount when paying out the tape 4 from the pad 3. A lever b is attached to the installation base plate 1 which can pivot about the axis a. A lever (h) is attached to the installation base plate 1 having a pivotal axis (f). The lever (b) and the lever (h) are movably connected or linked together by means of a vertical lever (e). A spring (j) is provided with one end connected to the installation base plate 1 at (i) and its other end connected to the lever (.12). A belt (k is fixed approximately to the middle of the lever (h). This belt (k) goes around its rotary axle 2 and has the other end connected to an adjustable stopper l provided on the installation base plate 1. By the adjustment of its screw, the adjustable stopper (1) can regulate the effective length of the belt (k). When the lever (h) moves in the direction of the arrow (n), the belt (k) brings its face in contact with the rotary axle and thereby suitably restricts the rotation of the rotary axle 2 and the longlength pad 3 supported by the axle. When the tape is being reeled, as mentioned later, the tension roller system (A) is responsive to slight changes in the tension when the tape 4 is moved in the direction of the arrow 5. For instance, when the tension on the tape has increased, the end tape guide (4:) of the lever (b) moves downward and as a result the connecting point (g) of the outer end of the lever (h) and the vertical lever (d) will be moved downward so that the belt (k) in contact with the circumference of the rotary axle 2 is slackened and the braking effect on the rotary axle is thereby lessened. In this way the increase in tape tension will be mitigated.

A horizontal installation base plate 11 is shown in FIG. 2. On the vertical base plate 1 there are provided tape guide pins or rollers 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 for the tape 4.

Also on the horizontal installation base plate 11 are likewise provided guide pins or rollers 12, 13, 18 and 22, and it is so constructed that by turning the top knobs 23 of 13, 18 and 22 of these guide pins, the angles made by the axes of the guide pins relative to the horizontal installation base plate 11 may be selectively changed. The guide roller 4 for the tape 14 is provided between the guide pin 13 and the: guide pin 18. Also, an L-shaped lever 16 supported on a vertical axis at its middle point 15 with one end kept in contact with the guide roller 14 via a roller 14a and! the other end being fixed to the horizontal installation base plate 11 via a spring 17. A cylindrical cam 19 opens and closes the microswitches 20, 21 by means of an extension protruding from its circumference. The cylindrical cam 19 is mechanically linked so that its revolutional velocity is synchronized with the revolutional velocity of the guide roller 14, so that its opening and closing operation of the microswitches 20 and 21 is carried out in accordance with the number of revolutions accomplished by the guide roller 14, and consequently, a prescribed or predetermined length of the tape passing around the guide roller 14. To change the set length of tape, the ratio of the mechanical linkage may be altered. To change a set length of 5 meters to 10 meters, for example, a simple electrical and mechanical device may be employed so as to have the appropriate microswitch operated when the cam extension engages the switch upon every second rotation.

A turn 24 is provided on the horizontal installation base plate 11. Four round concavities 25 are provided on the circumference of the turn table 24 at intervals of 90. These concavities 25 are just large enough to have the flange of an empty reel fit therein. A stand 26 for feeding empty reels is provided with 6 cylinders 27 for storing empty reels are provided on its circumference at equal intervals, and is supported rotatably on a central axle 28. A disposed tranfer conduit 30 is provided for supplying empty reels from beneath each cylinder 27 when in the position indicated by the numeral 29. The turn table 24 turns 90 degrees intermittently, and the position of aconcavity 2515;. the tii'Ffiabi 24 is provided to be at the position below and adjacent the lower end of the conduit 30, so that the bottom most reel of the empty reels placed one upon another and stored in the cylinder 27 for storing empty reels is pushed out (not shown in the drawing) to slide down on the conduit 30 to be placed and positioned in the concavity 25 on the turn table 24.

A device 31 is provided for applying a paste to the central axle of an empty reel. The end portion 32 of the device 31 functions to apply the paste is provided to extend its plunger portion in the direction of the arrow 33 to apply the paste when an empty reel is positioned directly under the conduit 30. A coupling element 34 is provided for power transmission to wind the tape in a concavity on an empty reel 25. A driving wheel, 35 and the coupling element 34 are connected by means of the power transmission belt 36. Also the driving wheel 35 and coupling element 34 are secured to the same support (not shown) and this support is provided to movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the horizontal installation base plate 11. When the reeling of a fixed length of tape by the coupling element 34 on an empty reel positioned therebeneath is completed, the coupling element 34 and driving wheel 35 attached integrally with their common support move upward to disengage the reel which has taken up the tape from the coupling element 34. Thereafter the turn table 24 is caused to turn 90 degrees and the reel which has taken up the tape is placed in a position counterclockwise 90 degrees from the original reeling position beneath coupling element 34. The reel is then grasped by the guide 37 and later upon rotation of the turn table 24, the reel is directed away from the table. At the same time, the next empty reel is positioned in the reeling position, i.e. directly below the coupling element 34. Then the support to which the coupling element 34 is secured, is brought down to engage the central hole of the empty reel by means of the drive extension on the coupling element 34 to enable the reel to be rotated and take up the next length of tape.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5 (i) through 5 (v) to explain the structural means for engaging the end of the tape to the tape reel core at the reeling position or station.

In FIG. 3 (i), the tape gripping device adjacent the reeling position includes the grippers 42 which are attached to the gripper supports 38. The cutting blades 40 provided symmetrically both left and right positions. While the tape is taken up on the reel 41, the grippers 42 are open and do not interfere with the passage of the tape 4. When a prescribed length has been taken up on the reel 41, the reel 41 comes to a stop. After that, as shown in FIG. 3 (ii), the grippers 42 grip the tape 4 and at the same time the tape tension roller 44 comes out against press the taken-up tape 4 on the reel 41 to the reel. Then, the cutting blades 40 are provided to move inwardly and cut the tape at which time the reel 41 rotates one turn so that the end of the cut tape 4 adheres to the tape already taken up on the reel 41. At this time the cutting blades 40 and tape pusher roller 44 are retracted and the next empty reel comes into the position of the reel 41, the grippers 42 are moved forward, gripping and pulling the tape therealong, until the end of the cut tape 4 has reached the central axle of the new empty reel 41.

At that time, as illustrated in FIG. 3 (iv), the air nozzle 43 is blown in order to ensure that the end of the tape becomes positioned beyond the central axle of the empty reel. When the tape end is placed in such a condition, as illustrated in FIG. 3 (iv), the tape extension roller 44 is extended from the side and the end of the tape extension roller presses the end of the tape 4 which is beyond the central axle of the reel is pressed against the central axle of the empty reel as illustrated in FIG. 3 (v). As already stated, the empty reel 41 had previously has a paste applied to its central axle, if necessary, by means of the paste applying device 31. The end of the tape 4 is, therefore, easily attached to the central axle of the empty reel, and the take-up operation can be started at once.

b. Operation Each long-length pad 3 of unsintered polytetraflueroethylene tape is set on the revolving axle 2. The end of tape 4 passes through the tension, as shown, and the face of the tape 4 is turned degrees between the guide pin 10 and the guide pin 12, so that the direction of the width of the tape after its passage by the guide pin 12 is about perpendicular to the horizontal installation has plate 11. The tape passes between the guide roller 14a 14 and the roller of the L-shaped lever 16. By regulating the knobs 23 on top of each of the guide pins 13, 18, 22, the angular position the guide pins relative to the horizontal installation base plate 11 on the side where the tape 4 contacts the guide pins can be selectively adjusted so that the tape is constantly subjected to a downward controlling force when it moves in and out of contact with these guide pins. If the guide pins are given such an angular position, the tape will not move beyond the top of the pins by virtue of the weight of the tape itself and the inclination of the pins. Since the tape is thus always under the influence of the downward controlling force and moves in such a condition that it barely touches the base plate 1 1, the snaking of the tape can be avoided. The tape 4 which has passed by the guide pin 22 passes through the grippers 38 and cutting blades 40 and reaches the reeling position. With an empty reel in the reeling position, the coupling element 34 moves downwardly and engages an empty reel in the concavity 25, while the tape extension roller 44 presses the end of the tape 4 against the central axle of the empty reel for adhesion due to the deposit of paste on the reel core or hub. Thereafter reeling of a predetermined length of tape commences.

If the speed of the tape should suddenly increase or decrease either at the start or end of the reeling operation, the travelling tape would become broken or become slackened. An electric motor controlling method is employed to control the speed of reeling wherein the speed increases gradually at the start of reeling and decreases gradually at the end of reeling. As an example, a direct current motor is used and by controlling the alternating current power source to the motor by means of a thyristor, it is possible to control the speed by increasing or decreasing power as desired.

As the tape 4 travels and is reeled, the cylindrical cam 19 is revolved by the travel of the tape 4 and measures the length and opening and closing the microswitches 21, 20. For example, the microswitch 21 controls the voltage by the thyristor and if it is closed the speed of the tape which is being taken up on the empty reel gradually decreases and eventually comes to a stop. Due to the action of the microswitch 21, an independent timer is actuated and after the reel has come to a stop, the tape is gripped by the grippers 38 and the tape 4 is extend cut by the cutting blades 40, which blades are then returned to their original position. Also, the coupling element 34 is raised to disconnect it from the reel which has taken up the measured length of tape, the turn table 90 degrees counterclock ise, and a new empty reel is brought into the reeling 5b iiiiii'fr the next reeling operation. Also, an ampty reel is supplied into the concavity 25 of the turn table 24 from the empty reel stand 26 in the position l80 from the reeling position.

As is clear from the preceding description, the longlength pad to be taken up is mounted vertically relatively to the floor. After it has passed the tension mechanism a, tape direction of the width is rotated 90 degrees so that the tape travels with its width perpendicular to the floor.

If the direction of the width of the tape is perpendicular to the floor, it is natural that the tape tends to move downwardly in the direction of gravity, unless some tension is applied to the tape longitudinally in the direction of its travel. According to the present invention, however, a controlling force in the downward direction is always maintained regardless of the travelling force imposed upon the tape by regulating the angles of the guide pins or guide rollers 13, 18 and 22 relative to the floor as measured from the pin side where the guide pins contact the travelling tape. Because of this, snaking, reeling collapse, folding, etc of the tape, which would normally occur, as mentioned previously seldom occurs in connection with an empty reel. Furthermore, the tension applied in the reeling position to the tape during the reeling position is kept constant by the tension mechanism a. This, provides for more accurate reeling.

Moreover, it is possible to carry out accurate and speedy reeling by first gradually increasing the tape speed at the start of a reeling operation, maintaining a constant speed during reeling and gradually decreasing tape speed prior to the completion of the reeling operation.

We claim:

1. Tape reeling apparatus to uniformly wind predetermined segments of very thin, thickness tape on a take-up reel in uniform alignment on the reel core without producing flaccids, wrinkling or crimping of the tape wound on the take-up reel, said apparatus including a first vertically disposed base,

a rotatable support means having an axially aligned hub mounted to said first base,

a reel of tape adaptable to be mounted on said support means tape payout means including back tensioning means to control the withdrawal of the tape from said tape reel,

a second horizontally disposed base adjacent to said first base,

guide means on said horizontally disposed base adapted to align the planar width of said tape perpendicular to the surface of said second base and in flush engagement with said second base surface as said tape is moved therealong, said guide means characterized by a plurality of vertically disposed guide rollers adjustably attached to said second base and generally arranged in an alternate fashion to receive the passage of said tape therearound,

tape drive means positioned between said rollers to engage and withdraw said tape from said tape reel, and

means to selectively adjust the angle of the axis of said rollers relative to said second base surface to provide a predetermined amount of constant downward force on said tape as it passes around said rollers.

2. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 1 characterized in that said back tensioning means includes a belt brake adapted to engage a portion of said support means hub, said payout means connected through linkage to adjustably apply said brake to maintain a tension on withdrawal of tape from said tape reel.

3. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 1 characterized by a tape reeling station having a coupling element adapted to receive and releasably engage and rotatably drive an empty reel to take up thereon a predetermined segment of tape, means to grip and draw forward and engage the end of said tape onto said take-up reel core, said tape drive means also adapted to drive said coupling element.

4. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 3 characterized by a rotatable cam interconnected to the rota tional movement of said tape drive means, switch means operative by said cam indicative of a selected amount of tape passing said tape drive means, and circuit control means connected to said switch means to control said tape drive means to vary the speed of the tape during the reeling operation performed at said reeling station.

5. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 3 characterized in that said means to grip and draw forward said tape end includes extendable grippers to grip and pull said tape end forward adjacent 'to said take-up reel core, and laterally extendable tape tension roller positioned to engage and roll said tape end against said take-up reel core.

6. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 5 characterized by pneumatic nozzle means to direct a jet of air on said tape end as extended forward adjacent said takeup reel core.

7. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 5 characterized by tape cutting means operative by said switch means through said circuit control means to cut the tape after completion of the reeling operation.

8. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 3 characterized in that said tape reeling station includes a turn table having four index positions, a concavity at each of said positions to receive an empty take-up reel, means to deposit an empty reel in each concavity as said turn table is rotated prior to said reeling station, said coupling element adapted to move downwardly and engage and rotatably drive an empty take-up reel at said reeling station, and means to engage said takeup reel upon indexing of said turn table after the reeling operation has been completed.

9. The method of reeling predetermined segments of soft and thin tape upon take-up reels in uniform alignment of the reel core without producing flaccids, wrinkling or crimping of the tape wound thereon comprising the steps of aligning the edge of the tape to uniformly move along a planar surface to a tape take-up reeling station, measuring the tape length as it proceeds to the reeling station,

gripping the end of the tape and drawing it forward to place the end of the tape in the immediate area of an empty take-up reel at the reeling station, applying a jet of air to the tape end to insure the protrusion of the tape end beyond the take-up reel core,

pressing the tape adjacent the tape end against the reel core securing the tape to the take-up reel core,

engaging and driving the take-up reel,

controlling the rotational speed of the take-up reel, first gradually increasing tape speed, maintaining high tape speed during tape reeling and thereafter gradually decreasing tape speed to completion of tape reeling,

synchronizing the rotational speed variation at the reeling station during reeling with the measurement of the desired segment of tape to be placed on the take-up reel, and

cutting the tape leading to the reeling station upon completion of reeling. 

1. Tape reeling apparatus to uniformly wind predetermined segments of very thin, thickness tape on a take-up reel in uniform alignment on the reel core without producing flaccids, wrinkling or crimping of the tape wound on the take-up reel, said apparatus including a first vertically disposed base, a rotatable support means having an axially aligned hub mounted to said first base, a reel of tape adaptable to be mounted on said support means tape payout means including back tensioning means to control the withdrawal of the tape from said tape reel, a second horizontally disposed base adjacent to said first base, guide means on said horizontally disposed base adapted to align the planar width of said tape perpendicular to the surface of said second base and in flush engagement with said second base surface as said tape is moved therealong, said guide means characterized by a plurality of vertically disposed guide rollers adjustably attached to said second base and generally arranged in an alternate fashion to receive the passage of said tape therearound, tape drive means positioned between said rollers to engage and withdraw said tape from said tape reel, and means to selectively adjust the angle of the axis of said rollers relative to said second base surface to provide a predetermined amount of constant downward force on said tape as it passes around said rollers.
 2. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 1 characterized in that said back tensioning means includes a belt brake adapted to engage a portion of said support means hub, said payout means connected through linkage to adjustably apply said brake to maintain a tension on withdrawal of tape from said tape reel.
 3. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 1 characterized by a tape reeling station having a coupling element adapted to receive and releasably engage and rotatably drive an empty reel to take up thereon a predetermined segment of tape, means to grip and draw forward and engage the end of said tape onto said take-up reel core, said tape drive means also adapted to drive Said coupling element.
 4. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 3 characterized by a rotatable cam interconnected to the rotational movement of said tape drive means, switch means operative by said cam indicative of a selected amount of tape passing said tape drive means, and circuit control means connected to said switch means to control said tape drive means to vary the speed of the tape during the reeling operation performed at said reeling station.
 5. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 3 characterized in that said means to grip and draw forward said tape end includes extendable grippers to grip and pull said tape end forward adjacent to said take-up reel core, and laterally extendable tape tension roller positioned to engage and roll said tape end against said take-up reel core.
 6. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 5 characterized by pneumatic nozzle means to direct a jet of air on said tape end as extended forward adjacent said take-up reel core.
 7. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 5 characterized by tape cutting means operative by said switch means through said circuit control means to cut the tape after completion of the reeling operation.
 8. The tape reeling apparatus of claim 3 characterized in that said tape reeling station includes a turn table having four index positions, a concavity at each of said positions to receive an empty take-up reel, means to deposit an empty reel in each concavity as said turn table is rotated prior to said reeling station, said coupling element adapted to move downwardly and engage and rotatably drive an empty take-up reel at said reeling station, and means to engage said take-up reel upon indexing of said turn table after the reeling operation has been completed.
 9. The method of reeling predetermined segments of soft and thin tape upon take-up reels in uniform alignment of the reel core without producing flaccids, wrinkling or crimping of the tape wound thereon comprising the steps of aligning the edge of the tape to uniformly move along a planar surface to a tape take-up reeling station, measuring the tape length as it proceeds to the reeling station, gripping the end of the tape and drawing it forward to place the end of the tape in the immediate area of an empty take-up reel at the reeling station, applying a jet of air to the tape end to insure the protrusion of the tape end beyond the take-up reel core, pressing the tape adjacent the tape end against the reel core securing the tape to the take-up reel core, engaging and driving the take-up reel, controlling the rotational speed of the take-up reel, first gradually increasing tape speed, maintaining high tape speed during tape reeling and thereafter gradually decreasing tape speed to completion of tape reeling, synchronizing the rotational speed variation at the reeling station during reeling with the measurement of the desired segment of tape to be placed on the take-up reel, and cutting the tape leading to the reeling station upon completion of reeling. 